Conservation in Planet Zoo 2

Last verified 2026-10-14

In Planet Zoo 2, guest Donation Bins earn zoo Cash. Quick Release grants immediate Conservation Credits. Wildlife Reserve releases and species research are separate, connected workflows with their own requirements.

Summary of Frontier's management, animal and reserve guides, checked 14 October 2026. Bonus-bin designs are distinguished from the functional donation system; no profit or research experiment is claimed.

Cash, credits and donation-bin designs

Place Donation Bins near habitats, exhibits and aquariums to collect guest donations. Review the income in Management, Finances. They are a Cash-income feature, not a button for releasing animals.

The Bonus Content Pack offers animal-themed Donation Bin designs. Those designs do not make the donation mechanism purely decorative or change guest Cash into Conservation Credits.

Conservation Credits are a separate currency used in animal trading and conservation. In Franchise they are shared across the Franchise, while each zoo keeps its own Cash.

Research unlocks release options

In Research, select a species topic and assign available staff using a functional Research Centre. Species research can unlock release groups, fertility improvements, education and Thriving requirements.

Some later research gates require releasing and studying species in reserves. Observation Platforms, Camera Traps and Acoustic Monitors support that work. Completed research persists across the Hub; reserve Research Rating is distinct from zoo staff research.

Quick Release or a Wildlife Reserve

Open Animal Trading & Storage, then Release Groups. Choose Create Release Group, an unlocked species and Group Type, then add eligible animals from storage using Edit Group Members.

Meet the group's requirements before Finalise Release Group. Finalisation cannot be undone and the animals cannot return to the zoo. Quick Release grants immediate Conservation Credits.

For a reserve release, choose Release to Wildlife Reserve, travel through Planet Hub if needed and select a suitable Established ecosystem. Some groups require Flourishing. Only species with an appropriate corresponding reserve can use that reserve flow.

Track reserve progress

Biodiversity Rating combines Ecosystem Rating and Research Rating. Ecosystem establishment, restoration and species diversity support the first; monitoring networks support the second. No fixed 50/50 weight or universal credit reward is established here.

Check the group and research requirements for the species you intend to release. A guest donation, a research unlock and a reserve release are different actions.

Questions people ask

Do Donation Bins earn Conservation Credits?

They collect guest donations as zoo Cash. Quick Release is the documented route to immediate Conservation Credits.

Where do I release animals?

Use Release Groups in Animal Trading & Storage. Prepare and finalise a suitable group, then choose Quick Release or an eligible Wildlife Reserve.

Can I return a finalised group to the zoo?

No. Frontier says finalisation cannot be undone and these animals cannot return to the zoo.